AKC Honors Five Heroic Dogs

This week the American Kennel Club has announced the winners of their seventh AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence. This year’s dogs were loyal, hard-working canines that made a significant contribution to the communities in which they live.

Robin

Each of the five recipients of the award also receives $1,000 and a sterling-silver collar medallion. This year’s winners are:

Exemplary Companion Dog: “Electra,” an eight-year-old Standard Poodle owned by Mandy Willis of Valrico, FL. has been seven-year-old Mandy Willis’ constant companion since her cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatments began in February 2008.

Sage

Search and Rescue Dog: “Sage,” a 10 year old Border Collie who is owned, trained and loved by Diane Whetsel of Hagerman, NM, is a K-9 officer for the New Mexico Corrections Department. Sage served at the Pentagon in the aftermath of 9/11, went to Aruba in 2005 to search for missing teen Natalee Holloway, and in 2007 Sage and Whetsel traveled to Iraq and spent six months searching for missing soldiers.

Law Enforcement Dog: “Robin,” a six-year-old Golden Retriever, is owned by Mary & Joseph MacQueen of Frewsburg, NY. Robin and Mary work for the Salamanca Police Department, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and assist with searches for the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force in Western New York State. In 2009 alone, Robin has been responsible for getting about half a million dollars worth of dangerous narcotics off the streets.

Therapy Dog: “Elliot,” a 7-year-old Border Terrier and registered therapy dog with the Delta Society, is owned by Miriam Couto of Woodland, WA. Elliot has spent more than 1,000 hours with patients, the majority of them children. Elliot assists in the care of the children at his local children’s hospital, providing comfort and helping calm patients so doctors can better help them. Elliot has even assisted doctors in performing life saving duties.

Service Dog: “Benton,” a six-year-old Labrador Retriever trained by Canine Companions for Independence, owned by Margo Dietrich of Norcross, GA. Benton is an assistance dog for Margo, and some of the daily tasks Benton assists Dietrich with include retrieving dropped items, dressing, and transferring her to and from a wheelchair.

The awards ceremony for the dogs will be nationally televised on December 12th.

[images used with permission from the AKC]